Contact:
Ivan Thomas
Jerry Thomas Public Relations
National Action Network Seeks Justice for Expelled Oklahoma Athletes
CHICAGO (July 29) – Two ministers representing the Chicago affiliate of the National Action Network were in Durant, Okla., on Tuesday to fight for justice for five African-American student athletes at Southeastern Oklahoma State University who were expelled over an April Fools’ Day prank.
One of the students, Krishon Daye, is from Chicago, and his mother approached the network’s founder, the Rev. Al Sharpton, about speaking up for the young men recently when he visited Greater St. John Bible Church, where the Rev. Ira Acree is pastor.
On April 1, the athletes, all football players, allegedly put on ski masks to go knocking on the doors of some white friends’ homes saying “stick up,” frightening them and then running away, Rev. Acree said. He added that they carried no weapons, and no one was hurt.
The school has refused to release their transcripts, and the district attorney has filed charges. Two of the students were graduating seniors. The students are also barred from campus and their scholarships were revoked, Acree said.
Acree and the Rev. Marshall Hatch Sr., pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church plan to meet with the students, known as the Durant 5, the university president, Larry Minks, and the district attorney on Tuesday afternoon. The students are due in court on at 9 a.m. Wednesday to enter their pleas of not guilty on all counts. The ministers will hold a press conference afterward outside the courthouse.
Both ministers have been in the forefront of the struggles for social justice in Chicago, most recently in the rallies to protest the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer.
Rev. Sharpton said, “I am in full support of Rev. Acree and Rev. Hatch looking into the matter of the Durant 5, and I will be advised and guided by them as to how I would proceed once they have finished their investigation.”
The five, Matthew Leatherwood, Jercolby Bradley, Krishon Daye, Arinzechukwu "Izzy" Eziakor, and Keith Craddock, are each charged with five misdemeanors and one felony count. Warrants were issued for their arrests, but they turned themselves in. Leatherwood, Bradley and Eziakor are from Dallas, Tex., and Keith Craddock is from Charlotte, N.C.
“We felt that criminal charges were in fact appropriate at this time,” District 19 Attorney Emily Redman.
Rev. Acree said: “We understand that this was a very foolish prank, and these students deserve some form of censure, but why should their lives be ruined forever? There has to be a better way of handling this? I'm sure this is not the way this county wants to be perceived nationally, as the town that finds no place for redemption for juvenile indiscretions.”
Rev. Hatch said they want Redman to drop the charges.
“We want the university to accept their apologies and release their transcripts so these young men can go on with their lives,” he said. “They've already paid an awful price for their immature conduct.".
The students have filed suit over the handling of the expulsions, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has protested on their behalf saying the students’ rights to due process were violated.
###
National Action Network
The National Action Network (NAN) in early 1991. NAN fights to empower people by providing extensive voter education, services aiding the poor, supporting economically small community businesses, confronting racism and violation of civil and human rights.
NAN is a political, human and civil rights organization that was conceived with a focus on action in accordance with the vision of its founder, the Rev. Al Sharpton. With the "national" representing the scope of its activities and "network" reflection the methodology of its expansion, NAN encompasses the vision of Rev. Sharpton by networking in "action" with individuals, groups and organization throughout the nation.
The organization provides voter awareness and the national platform revolves around activism against racial profiling, police brutality, women issues, economic reform, public education, and aids awareness. National Action Network is based in New York city, 35 national chapters within the United States and growing.
marksallen2800@aol.com
Chairman & COO National Black Wall Street Chicago
(Rev. Willie T. Barrow Consumer Education and Consumer Action Project)
Founder/Lead Organizer, Illinois Voter Restoration Civic Education Project
Chief of Staff to National Chairman, National Black Wall Street USA
"And The Ordinary People Said" News Blog, www.chicagonow.com
Chairman, Community Reinvestment Organizing Project
Listed in 2012 Edition Who' Who In Black Chicago
4655 South King Drive, Suite 203
Chicago, Illinois 60653
(Office) 773-268-6900 or direct 773-392-0165
The Rev. Al Sharpton calls Mark Allen "one of Chicago's legendary political activists and one of the best organizers of his generation"
Chairman & COO National Black Wall Street Chicago
(Rev. Willie T. Barrow Consumer Education and Consumer Action Project)
Founder/Lead Organizer, Illinois Voter Restoration Civic Education Project
Chief of Staff to National Chairman, National Black Wall Street USA
"And The Ordinary People Said" News Blog, www.chicagonow.com
Chairman, Community Reinvestment Organizing Project
Listed in 2012 Edition Who' Who In Black Chicago
4655 South King Drive, Suite 203
Chicago, Illinois 60653
(Office) 773-268-6900 or direct 773-392-0165
The Rev. Al Sharpton calls Mark Allen "one of Chicago's legendary political activists and one of the best organizers of his generation"
https://theblacklist.net/
Replies
These students deserve to be suspended for their stupidity, if it is a fact that they '...put on ski masks to go knocking on the doors of some white friends’ homes saying “stick up,” frightening them and then running away...'